Grant on borrowed time

Chelsea's excellent 4-0 win at West Ham is unlikely to relieve the pressure on beleaguered boss Avram Grant.

Never mind that the Israeli signed a four year contract in December, has only lost three games in 36 since he took charge and arguably exceeded expectations - his job is in danger.

It's all well and good beating the lesser sides in the Premier League - his team has so far failed the bigger tests.

They were unable to register a goal against key rivals Liverpool, Arsenal or Manchester United and performed woefully in their biggest game of the campaign so far - the Carling Cup final against Spurs.

And to see Grant so brutally exposed tactically by Juande Ramos will have made Blues fans squirm and Roman Abramovich choke on his caviar.

The mark of a great manager is an ability to pick the right team when a lot of talent is at your disposal.

And in his first real chance to prove he could do this, Grant got it woefully wrong.

For the first time in his tenure, Grant had a fully fit squad to pick from ahead of the Spurs game, while all his players were available after the African Cup of Nations.

But he got his selection worryingly wrong and the balance of the side was never right.

And when the chance came to change things, he was unable to grab the bull by the horns.

He was short of ideas and wasn't willing to take any risks. By the time changes were finally made - and Michael Ballack and Joe Cole were introduced - it was too late.

And most disturbingly, it was Grant's assistant Steve Clarke who gave the team-talk before extra-time. Surely it should have been the Israeli rousing the troops?

PLAYER RESPECT

Grant has a cacophony of egos to massage at Chelsea, and the question becomes not only whether the manager can get things right tactically with so much talent at his disposal, but also whether he has the ability - and authority - to keep so many top players happy and content.

All signs point to no. The fact that so many of the so-called senior players 'refused' to shake Grant's hand at the end of the Spurs game suggests a lack of respect, while the training ground bust-up between Henk Ten Cate and John Terry suggests all is not well behind the scenes.

These disagreements happen on training grounds almost every day, but the fact that it was leaked out into the public sphere and made such a big deal of does not bode well for Grant. It all points to a destabilising element at play in the dressing room.

BIG NAME MANAGERS

It does not help Grant that Frank Rijkaard continues to be linked to his job, while Guus Hiddink's name still refuses to go away.

But this wouldn't be happening if Grant had been able to take the team out of Jose Mourinho's shadow.

Grant's Chelsea aren't playing a brand of football more entertaining than Mourinho's (as was the brief set by Abramovich), they are further away from winning the league than they ever were under Mourinho, and let's not forget, Mourinho never lost a cup final while at Chelsea.

Abramovich got rid of the man stealing his thunder, but what good is that if Chelsea don't win anything? Only a piece of silverware is likely to save Grant from the chop.

Does Grant deserve more time? Is one season long enough to prove himself? Who would you replace him with? What would you have done differently in the Carling Cup final? Will he be sacked if Chelsea lose to Olympiakos? How much do you love football?

Posted
by Brian BrownsteinMarch 2, 2008 12:58 PM

LATEST COMMENTS

Roman Abramovich has swung the opposite side of the pendulum in sacking Mourinho with his overly-charismatic strong personality and going with Avram Grant, a man who doesn't seem to really have one.

One could forgive the fact that he has all the class and style of a used-car salesman from the seedy end of town, if only he managed to deliver what he promised early on - lots of goals, champagne football, the silverware of Mourinho but with more, well, style in the football.

The trouble is, he hasn't managed to win the really important games against the other two big three teams, Manchester United and Arsenal (Liverpool no longer being a big enough threat to belong to any so-called big four). He has also managed to be embarassed by London rivals tottenham in a cup final.

He just doesn't seem to engender the same spirit in the team Mourinho did.

His tactics and substitutions are at best predictable, at worst inexplicable and ineffective, and usually reactive, not proactive.

Early reports of his training routines were that they were ridiculously old fashioned and out of date.

More tellingly, Arsene Wenger and Alex Ferguson have looked worryingly relaxed lately. Ah for the days when Arsene Wenger refused to shake hands with the Chelsea boss...

While overall Grant has not yet done anything spectacularly wrong, one cannot help but wonder just how much of that is down to having a team of superstars rather than his astute tactics.

Personally, as a Chelsea fan, the sooner we see the back of him and Ten Cate the better.

Bring on Rijkaard.

Posted by: Slippery Jim on March 2, 2008 7:35 PM

Brian,
Ho, ho, ha, ha... Didn't you know Chelsea are one of those teams that can be coached from the nearest coffee lounge.. No matter who in the end, is in charge..

But, at the end of the day, if it is Frank Rijkaard, I hope he likes his coffee strong... And I'll pick up the tab..

~~~~~
KB

Posted by: Koala Bear on March 2, 2008 9:23 PM

Grant showed he lacked the minerals when he put Terry and Lampard in the starting lineup of the Cup final as soon as they were back from injury. Nevermind showing respect to the other players that got the team to the final, he chose names instead of form players. As good a player a Lampard is, starting him and putting Ballack on the bench is a crime.

Posted by: Goran on March 3, 2008 9:16 AM

Aaahh the joys of being a Manager in the Premier League. Regardless if the Manager is brilliant, good or mediocre, this "just add water" instant success mentality is not only ludicrous but will slowly choke one of the most exciting football leagues to death. What happens if they give Grant the flick and bring in Hiddink. Do they think Hiddink will instantly turn them into Premier League/European champions? I don't think so. Most football fans probably realise it takes time to build a team but these friggin board members for these clubs don't seem to realise that. I mean for god sake look at Ferguson at United, he was on a knife edge about to get the can, but he came through built a team and the rest is history as they say. I can certainly understand the argument about making poor squad choices, but the disposable mentality can only lead to a lack of any consistancy in form. Just take a look at Newcastle!

Posted by: AL on March 3, 2008 10:25 AM

You know what Brian, Iím actually quite concerned about Chelseaís position in the league you know. They are only a few points behind United and Arsenal with only United and Arsenal left to play having played the Scousers twice already. With around ten games to go for the three of them, that means thereís thirty points to win and lose for the three of them and I have been saying for some time, I think it will be a one, two, three finish of United, Chelsea and THEN Arsenal.

Posted by: Johnno, Cheetham Hill Red on March 3, 2008 12:29 PM

If no trophys are won old Avy G will be gone without question at the end of the season....
Realistically he hasnt done a terrible job this season, backing up from a manager of Jose's caliber and a team that loved him is no easy feat...Only losing three matches since in charge isnt bad either, considering the first was against man U at old trafford and was his first game at the helm, and the second against gunners at emirates...
We are still (just) in the race for the premeirship but i highly doubt we will catch ars/man U.
Especially not after seeing how avram handles the big games...The cc final against tottenham was very hard to watch as a fan of chelsea, as stated above ballack and cole should have been on from the beggining. Cole has been our best player this season and Ballack has done wonders since lampards injury.
We need a coach of hiddink or Rijkaard's caliber to handle the superstar team that is chelsea, clearly avram doesnt have the capability too...

Posted by: Joe on March 3, 2008 1:07 PM

AL - The clubs (Man U, Arsenal, Villa etc) that have effective Boards don't have these problems. The Clubs that have rich individuals (Chelsea, Newcastle) have these problems because of the EGO factor...

Johnno - Chelsea will be lucky to hang on to 3rd - you fail to recognise that you only have 24 points up for grabs cause you wont get any from Man U or Arsenal.

As for Avram Grant - he has no tactical ability, no league experience & no coaching certificate - soon he will have NO Job.

Posted by: Simmo on March 3, 2008 1:20 PM

I'll come back,all is forgiven.

I hear Branco Culina's looking for a job....

Posted by: Jose Mourinho on March 3, 2008 1:30 PM

Avram Grant was never a coach rather a puppet to Roman.
He sucked from the start...The fact that no one respects him in the dressing room is enough reason to send him packing. Plus when your top striker (Drogba) keeps saying he wants to leave and your captain is having spats with your first team coach what else do you need.

I would love Mourinho to be re-instated or at least take the helm of another top club very soon.
Just his antics on the field (and in the press conference) made my weekends.

Gonna have to disagree with the lad Simmo there; does anyone else realize that United have to play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, the ground upon Chelsea have not been beaten for at least two or three seasons now Ė I suppose you could say they are therefore due to be beat at home, but there is a reason Chelsea are third, and that is the fact they have a ridiculously talented and expensive squad and their home form is consistently the best in England over the past few years. Iím a United fan, and I promise you Iím more concerned about Chelseaís threat than Arsenal.

Posted by: Johnno, Cheetham Hill Red on March 3, 2008 2:12 PM

Simmo, lucky to hang on to 3rd? You seriously think Man City or Everton can catch up?

You're dreaming!

Posted by: Frank F on March 3, 2008 2:33 PM

What a load of bo**cks.

Avram is doing a good job, the team has done well. Yes Chelsea didn't win the Carling Cup but which of the other "big four" where even in the final?

United and Liverpool didn't even make it to the last 4.

And Guus hasn't been linked to the job in quite some time, stop using his name to draw readers attentions because of his previous links to the Socceroos!

Hi Alexander,

Ten Cate was specifically asked if he was willing to work with Hiddink by Chelsea suits before he took the job. Abramovich still wants him.

Cheers, Brian

Posted by: Alexander on March 3, 2008 2:41 PM

abit of a knee-jerk reaction about Grant, lose the LEAGUE CUP (use to be called the milk cup, remember that) and the sky is falling in, there doing OK in the premiership but they were never favourites to win the prem and Chelsea is exactly where they would be if Mourinho was in charge, i'm not saying that i'm a fan of Grant's because i think he's average at best but isn't this a big press beat up

Rijkard to Chelsea in the Summer
Mourinho to Barcelona

Blind Freedy can see that one coming

Posted by: thom on March 3, 2008 4:10 PM

I haven't seen much EPL games lately so i can't comment on their style of play.

But never really enjoyed watching Chelsea. The only memorable style by Chelsea that i recall was when Giafranco Zola was playing. What a legend!! Forza Giafranco!!

Chelsea is probrably now bitting their own bullet by getting rid of Mourinho, who in my opinion is one of the best tactician in football of this generation, along with Hiddink of coz (still can't over Hiddink)!

Posted by: Gerson on March 3, 2008 4:58 PM

Posted by: Gerson on March 3, 2008 4:58 PM

Ahh, Gerson, you are missing out on a rare treat. Zola was definately memorable.

Another of my favourite Chelsea moments was a spectacular bicycle kick goal from the edge of the box by Eider Gudjohnsen from a Frank Lampard cross - football perfection.

Personally, since Mourinho never lost a cup final, I think that we would have won the Carling Cup with him at the helm.

Mourinho to Barcelona would be interesting, a definate conflict in styles, perhaps?

Posted by: Slippery Jim on March 3, 2008 6:10 PM

grant is a big 000000000000000000000,he ius goign to lose against Arsenel( home ) manchester (home) both EPL,and will b a draw in UEFA C League,and he will b thraw away from bridge to the sea.